Meerut, May 30 -- Samajwadi Party leader Abdullah Azam received major relief on Friday in the much-discussed dual passport case after the MP-MLA sessions court overturned the seven-year sentence awarded to him by the lower court. The court also granted him bail in the matter, though he will continue to remain in jail due to his conviction in a separate two-PAN card case. The case dates back to 2019, when city MLA Akash Saxena lodged a complaint at the Civil Lines police station alleging that Abdullah Azam had obtained two separate passports using different details. Following the complaint, police conducted an investigation and later filed a chargesheet against him. The matter was heard in the MP-MLA magistrate court, which on December 5, 2025, convicted Abdullah Azam and sentenced him to seven years of imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 50,000. The verdict had triggered a major political and legal debate in the state. Challenging the lower court's ruling, Azam's legal team filed a criminal appeal before the MP-MLA sessions court. At the same time, the prosecution also moved an appeal seeking enhancement of the punishment awarded by the magistrate court. On Friday, MP-MLA sessions court judge Vijay Kumar pronounced the judgment, staying the operation of the lower court's order and acquitting Abdullah Azam in the passport case. The court also approved his bail plea. Speaking after the verdict, Abdullah Azam's counsel Nasir Sultan said that the lower court had earlier imposed a seven-year sentence, against which an appeal was filed before the special judge of the MP-MLA Court. He said the appellate court has now accepted the appeal and cancelled the previous judgment. The defence counsel further stated that every criminal case is decided on the basis of its own facts and evidence. Expressing confidence in the judicial process, he said the defence hopes to receive justice in all remaining matters as well. Heavy security arrangements were deployed outside the court premises during the hearing in view of the sensitivity of the case and the expected gathering of supporters....